I did realize after the fact that the color of my suit are pretty darned close to what the shuttle astronauts wore:

Side note: I've known the term for a one-piece coverall as a "jump suit" since I was a kid, but it wasn't until college that I realized that it's due to the paratrooper/skydiver use that it has that name.

The Canada crossing stories reminded me of my first trip through in 2008. I pull up to the booth and give the Officer our passports (riding 2 up). The conversation goes as follows:

Officer: He asks me if I have any weapons.

Me: The only weapon I have is a buck knife in the top box.

Officer: That's not what I asked you

Me: The knife is the only thing that I have that could even remotely be considered a weapon. [Should have said: Yes, that's exactly what you asked me.]

Officer: That's not what I asked you. Do you have guns or Bombs?

Me: No I don't have any guns or bombs [Should have said: That's not what you asked me.]

Struck me kind of funny after the fact.

Had you used those responses I'm sure you would have had a wonderful time getting to know the customs agents very well as they invited you to spend the afternoon with them discussing your life history and stripping down your bike to look for contraband. It would have been a hoot.

__________________
You learn something new every day if you're not careful.

"When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk."
Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez, otherwise known as "The Rat."

Had you used those responses I'm sure you would have had a wonderful time getting to know the customs agents very well as they invited you to spend the afternoon with them discussing your life history and stripping down your bike to look for contraband. It would have been a hoot.

When coming back into the USA on my Arctic Circle trip last year I was the last person in our group to go through. The other three guys in my group ahead of me thought it would be funny to tell the Border guy to give me a hard time.

He did give me a hard time! I sat there in the heat for about 15 minutes while he busted my balls. Asking all kinds of absurd questions like if I was transporting any "yellow" shirts back into the USA? My buddies were laughing at the beginning then they started to grow concerned as the border agent never cracked a smile the entire time or even hinted that he was joking around. He was serious and did a thorough job! I wiped the sweat out of my eyes and thanked him for his time as he handed my passport back to me.

When coming back into the USA on my Arctic Circle trip last year I was the last person in our group to go through. The other three guys in my group ahead of me thought it would be funny to tell the Border guy to give me a hard time.

He did give me a hard time! I sat there in the heat for about 15 minutes while he busted my balls. Asking all kinds of absurd questions like if I was transporting any "yellow" shirts back into the USA? My buddies were laughing at the beginning then they started to grow concerned as the border agent never cracked a smile the entire time or even hinted that he was joking around. He was serious and did a thorough job! I wiped the sweat out of my eyes and thanked him for his time as he handed my passport back to me.

So the other day I came out of a store to find a guy looking over my R100 GS. He asked me if it was a '76, because he had one just like it that was a '76. I told him that they didn't come out until '81. He said, "Oh, I just mean the boxer thing." Turned out he had had a '76 R75/5. He said with a grin, "yeah, you sit at a stop light with those things and they just shake back and forth," indicating a violent lateral shaking motion with his hands. I thought, well, not if you sync the carbs, but I didn't say anything. He says he now owns an 1150 GS, but presumably doesn't realize that it too is a boxer. Nice enough guy, but...

Used to bring home groceries on the motorcycle all the time. Constantly had people stop and watch me load 'em on the bike. I could carry a weeks worth on the pillion under a bungie net. Never did figure out how to bring home bread or chips without pulverizing them.

Bungie nets are always useful. For things like bread, chips, and eggs, if your bike has a hinged gas cap, the plastic bag handles can go under the hinge, and rest partly on the tank, and partly in your lap. The Ascot thumper that was my first bike had a gas cap lock-bar separate from the cap, which was perfect for this:

__________________Cogito... Ergo, ZOOM!

Choosing a ride is much too personal to be left entirely to comparisons of spec sheets.

Should I be offended that I just rode 5000 miles in 28 days and nobody asked me a stupid question?

OK, can't resist, maybe they did, but you didn't realize it was stupid.
Or maybe you had cruiser face and they were scared to ask.
Possible, but not likely, you were in an area where people weren't stupid?
Just funnin' ya, hope you enjoyed your ride.

OK, can't resist, maybe they did, but you didn't realize it was stupid.
Or maybe you had cruiser face and they were scared to ask.
Possible, but not likely, you were in an area where people weren't stupid?
Just funnin' ya, hope you enjoyed your ride.

5,000 miles across north America and you don't think I was in an area where people were stupid?

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtlemoye

Here's one. What the hell took you so long? Unless it was largely off road you were taking your dear sweet time.

I got that one today!
This man walked up to me and asked me if I wasn't hot in all that. He explained that he often sees motorcyclists dressed like that and just thinks oh gosh that must be terribly warm.
He was genuinely surprised when I explained that it is mostly mesh and yes it holds substantial armor in place for my knees, elbows, shoulders and back.
We had a short and nice conversation.